Torches Light the Way for YouthTwelve torches were brought back to Beijing Wednesday by young pioneer delegates from around the country after a five-month tour.The torches, lighted with the holy flame on the China Centenary Altar on January 1, passed through 12 regions including Shenzhen in Guangdong, Jing-gangshan in Jiangxi and Yan'an in Shaanxi to memorialize the 50-year anniversary of the establishment of China Young Pioneers. Wherever the torches went, local members held activities to commemorate the history of the group as well as ones that looked forward to its future. "After learning the history of the China Young Pioneers and all the great changes which occurred in China since 1949, our members become more patriotic and proud to belong to the group," said Zhou Qiang with the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China. The Chinese Young Pioneers is a primary school student's organization promoting children's well-balanced growth. Representing 130 million young pioneers around the country, at least 600 delegates will participate in the Fourth Young Pioneer Congress beginning Thursday and lasting until Sunday. The congress, which is held every five years, will specify the tasks and duties of the organization in the new century, revise the group's charter and elect a new team to lead the organization. It will also honour young pioneers who showed good performance in the organization's Trans-century Fledging-Eagle drive, which kicked off in 1994, to help make skills available to youngsters and help them survive in a competitive world and develop a "healthy and active mentality." |
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